Does skin recover after prednisone?

It depends what you mean by recover. I had a problem with thin skin in some places while I was on prednisone. The patches of thin skin were translucent and very sensitive to the sun. After I got off prednisone, the patches of thin skin aren't as thin and translucent anymore. The patches aren't sensitive to the sun but they don't tan like the rest of my skin. The patches of thin skin are now bright white and opaque more like scar tissue.

The bruised areas and other spots have mostly disappeared. Some formerly bruised spots are darker than they should look --- somewhat like they are permanently stained.

Finally someone who knows what those bruises are from. Docs say they are just old age spots. I started at 20mg and am now to 2.5. Less bruising and bleeding. However it is a slow process. But it's good to know why. It took about 2 years to taper down. Pain still happens when stress is high but nothing like it was. Hang in there 🙏 😂, it does get better.
Praying for you!

My arm looks the same as yours after the lightest of gardening. It's really annoying, especially as clothes get blood on them every time I do some small thing outdoors. The skin catches and peels back, so it has to be carefully put back in place before all the bandaids go on. The skin is so shiny and thin. Physical deterioration speeds up with PMR and the steroids.

I was on steroids for 6 months. Some light sensitivity to my skin while on steroids. But no permanent issues. My wife has been on for over 3 years and her skin as the Dr describes it is like a Georgia peach. She cannot bump her skin or even press on it and it creates a purple spot that eventually bleeds. She is on about 5mg prednisone. Dr has prescribed some cream but it doesnt do much. Coconut oil works about the best. You have a ways to go to get off. All the hard part of the taper is coming. The only thing I really wanted to add is that my wife has left side paralysis. She can use her right side but limited to wheel chair. Just the difference in mobility of her right side makes a huge difference. I would start with exercising your arms and legs as a daily routine. Any amount helps.

They say PMR doesn't do any physical harm so it must be the steroids. Be very careful if your skin peels back that easily --- that is an open invitation to an infection and cellulitis.

Whoever says prednisone side effects are "easy to manage if you know how" hasn't ever taken care of patients on steroids in a hospital setting. Bandaids are no good when your skin is that thin. Changing the dressing tends to pull off more skin.

Absolutely. My doctor told me from the start that prednisone thins the skin. After 6 months off prednisone I have stopped getting purple spots at the slightest knock. I was on it for a year. Unfortunately prednisone does age you so my skin seems more wrinkly but perhaps not quite as thin as on prednisone. I feel I have aged dramatically with PMR and prednisone.

The cheap bandaids I use are no problem as the adhesive peels off itself in a day or so, around when a fresh one needs to go on. The small round medical grade bandaids they apply after blood tests are murder to get off. Like you said, the bandaid is much stronger than the skin and causes bleeding under the skin when trying to get it off. I had to leave the last one on for days to prevent bleeding and skin injury.

our skin Dr gave us a handful of Curity Non-adherent strips 3x8. Sort of a Vaseline soaked gauze. You use an antiseptic cleaner first. This is a Cardinal wound and dressing cleaner. Cut the curity strip to cover the wound. Then a gauze pad. Then a vet wrap or self adherent wrap around the wound. Nothing sticks to the skin. Still takes week to 10 days to heal. If you take it off to early then the scab just brushes on anything and opens up.

There shouldn't be any scab formation. You are doing fantastic but keeping the wound moist is essential.

Skin tears due to thin skin are really hard to manage. Prednisone doesn't help the situation because it increases the risk of infection and slows the healing process.

Yes. Good point. No Scab. Thats why you have to leave the bandage on. 10 days sometimes with this prednisone damaged skin is not long enough.